Apparatus for sterilizing disease-germs.



No. 683,690. Patented Oct. 1, I90]. '0. M. JOHNSON.

APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING DISEASE GERMS.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1900.

(No Model.)

w m M M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoE,

CHARLES MJJOHNSON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING DlSEASE-GERMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 683,690, dated October 1, 1901.

Original application filed June 13, 1900, Serial No. 23,585. Divided and this application filed December 5, 1900. Serial No. 3817M. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States of America, re siding at No. 689 Greenwich street, in the city, county, and State of New York, but temporarily residing at Denmark House, Redhill, county of Surrey, England, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Sterilizing Disease-Germs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toan improvement in sterilizing disease-germs and renderinginert and killing of microorganisms,animal and vegetable, and entozoa, growths, and diseasegerms of all kinds Within the human and animal system and the alleviating and curing of diseases which are generated, superinduced, increased, prolonged, or made more malignant by such micro organisms, entozoa, growths, and germs-such (among others) as enteric and other fevers, tuberculosis, tumors, cancerous growths, carbuncles, bubonic and other plagues, leprosy, and elephantiasis--by the use and application of electricity alone and, secondly, by the use and application of electricity in combination with medicines, drugs, or chemicals.

The form of electricity which I use is a current of high voltage and low amperage capable of producing what is known as a silent discharge, emitting the violet or ultra-violet ray, being the ray similar in character to the violet or ultra-violet rays of the sunthat is, those rays which are known as the chemical or actinic rays of the sun-and I know absolutely that I have those rays, forI have in proof of this assertion taken a photograph without any light whatever, which suns rays, it is already known, are capable of rendering inert and non-productive and of killing micro-organisms and disease-germs.

I generate the current above described preferably by or from a Wimshurst influence or frictional machine; but other suitable machines generating a current producing the violet or ultra ray may be used. I have used a Wimshurst machine having twenty glass plates thirty-six inches in diameter which gencrates a current having a very high voltage and low amperage, giving many millions of Vibrations per second, and have taken the current either from the primary or from the secondary poles to produce these rays, I attain these objects by the mechanism and apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which is shown a side view of a subject E, lying upon a table in a position to be treated for a diseased lung, and showing the apparatus in position'and one method of operation.

In the drawing the two wires designated by and represent the two electrodes of the electric current leading from a suitable electric generator, (one marked .P, the other N.) A and A represent the ends of these two wires P and N, where very fine-wire D or very fine metal fibers with very fine points are electrically connected.

G represents a glass tube; 0, the cork in said tube, through which cork the electric Wire Ppasses into the glass tube, as shown,

and F a small bell-mouthed glass tube which passes through the cork O and nearly through the fine wires A, as shown, in the glass tube.

In operation the electric current is turned onto the two wires P and N byany suitable switch, and the current being of the character above described in endeavoring to pass orequalize the pressure between-the two electrodes is very finely divided and produces the violet or ultra rays, the intensity of the rays depending upon the subdivision, the voltage, and the distance apart of the electrodes. The nearer they are together that is, they must be far enough apart to prevent sparking-the more intense the rays.

The wires Pand N may be supported in any suitable manner, and the rays or the vibrations which produce these rays may be direct ed and adjusted to any desired part or portion of the body E without injury to the patient (for these rays possess no heat) and kill or render inert the micro-organisms which cause disease. Observations under the microscope of micro organisms treated with a current generated and applied as above described has shown me that they first become active or restive, then cease to be reproductive, then inert or comatose, and as the treatment is continued are finally killed. I may also use the glass tube G or a like vessel if the body isto be treated.

W'henit is desired to use medicines, drugs, or chemicals in combination with the electric current, I pour the medicines, drugs, or chemicals through the glass tube F onto the surface of the part to be treated and apply and control the electric current as hereinbefore described. Such medicines, drugs, or chein icals are carried through theskin and into the diseased part of the body and so destroy the growths, micro-organisms, or germs which cause disease.

This specification is a division of application, Serial No. 23,585, filed June'lo, 1900, the title being Sterilizing disease germs.

I do not claim as new the treatment pure and simple by the electric current, for the electric current possesses many vibrations or waves of force which I do not want-which I do not use'-which do not have the chemical efiect I want, for by my invention I take an electric current of very high voltage (I am electrodes and consisting of metallic points adapted upon the passage of the electric current through said poles to divide said current into rays.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, an electric circuit, electrodes in said circuit, oppositely arranged poles on said electrodes and consisting of minute metallic points adapted upon the passage of the electric current through said poles to minutely divide said current into rays. I

3. In an apparatus of the character described, an electric circuit, electrodes in said circuit, oppositely -arranged poles on said electrodes and consisting of minute metallic points adapted upon the passage of the electric current through said poles to minutely divide said current into rays, a tube surrounding one of said poles, and a tube through which medicines may be introduced into the tubesurrounding one of said poles.

- 4. In an apparatus of the character described, an electric circuit, electrodes in said circuit, poles arranged on saidelectrodes and consisting of minute points adapted upon the passage of the electric current through said poles to divide said current into rays.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES M. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

T. Z. MAXIME, J AS. F. CUMMINGS. 

